The $120 Million-earning, 'black' quarterback (raised by 2 white parents) of the San Fransisco 49ers decided yesterday that in order to protest "a country that oppresses black people and people of color," he would refuse to stand during the national anthem. Colin Kaepernick's "sit in" has not gone down well with some of his 'fans' (or non-fans or other NFL players) with 49ers supporters burning his shirt and others demanding he be banned from playing in The NFL.
Kaepernick has an African American father but, after being put up for adoption, was raised by a white couple alongside their two children.
As The Mail reports, Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem on Friday as part of a protest against 'the oppression of black people'. Kaepernick, 28, sat on the team's bench during the anthem before the Niners played host to the Green Bay Packers in an exhibition game.
Explaining his decision, Kaepernick said he refuses to feel pride for a country that mistreats minorities. He told NFL Media:
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.
There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.
To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way".
Furious San Francisco 49ers fans did not take well to the mediocre quarterback's actions. One fan even played The Star-Spangled Banner as he set light to the Number 7 shirt.
Watching with his hand on his chest as it was reduced to ash.
Another, who uploaded a video to Instagram under the handle Nate3914, called the $19million-per-year athlete an 'ignorant son of a b****.'
"People die every single day defending that flag you refuse to stand for and I won’t stand for that.
This jersey was the worst $50 investment I have ever had … you should never play in the NFL again, move to Canada."
This is not the first time that athletes have brought political discussions into the sporting arena. In 1996, NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the anthem, saying the United States had a history of tyranny and doing so would conflict with his Islamist beliefs. The NBA initially suspended Abdul-Rauf for his stance before it was lifted when he said he would stand and pray silently during the song.
Kaepernick said he is not worried about any potential fallout from his protest. "This is not something that I am going to run by anybody," he told NFL Media. "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. … If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right."
Kaepernick is in competition to win back the starting quarterback job in San Francisco that he lost to Blaine Gabbert last season. He made his first appearance of the preseason on Friday night after missing two games with a tired shoulder. He finished 2 for 6 for 14 yards and added 18 yards on four runs. Kelly said Kaepernick is still in the running to win the starting job and his protest won't impact the decision.
via http://ift.tt/2c72dZ9 Tyler Durden